Rheumatic Disease

Reports on arthritis therapy findings from University of Nijmegen provide new insights

Rheumatic Disease Library Library Home This article was published in Pain & Central Nervous System Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"It is unclear whether MIF polymorphisms determine GC response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to other RA treatments. Therefore, the question of whether two functional variants in MIF are associated with the response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha-neutralising and GC treatments in RA was investigated Data from two cohorts of an RA registry were used. For patients who started with TNF-alpha-neutralising (infliximab) or GC treatment, courses with a duration of at least 3 months were included and response to TNF-alpha blockers or GC was calculated according to the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria. MIF -173G-- >C genotyping was achieved using an assay-on-demand allelic discrimination assay, and alleles of the CATT repeat element were identified using a fluorescently labelled PCR primer and capillary electrophoresis. Logistic-regression modelling was used for the statistical analysis In total, 192 courses of oral prednisone or methylprednisolone injections in 98 patients with RA and 90 patients with RA who were on TNF-alpha-neutralising treatments were documented. In all, 27% of the patients with RA were found to be heterozygous for seven CATT repeats (CATT(7)) and 31% were heterozygous for -173C. Respectively, 4% and 6% of the patients with RA were homozygous for the MIF CATT(7) repeat or the MIF -173C allele," wrote T.R. Radstake and colleagues, University of Nijmegen.

The researchers concluded: "Carrier status and homozygosity for CATT(7 )repeat and the MIF -173C allele were not associated with response to GC (odds ratios (ORs) close to 1) or to TNF-alpha-neutralising treatment (ORs close to 2) The MIF-CATT(7) repeat and the MIF-173G-- >C functional variant are not strongly associated with a decreased clinical response to TNF-alpha-neutralising or GC treatment in RA."

Radstake and colleagues published their study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (Macrophage migration inhibitory factor polymorphisms do not predict therapeutic response to glucocorticoids or to tumour necrosis factor alpha-neutralising treatments in rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2007;66(11):1525-30).

For additional information, contact T.R. Radstake, Experimental Rheumatology and Advanced Therapeutics, Dept. of Rheumatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 8, PO 6525 GA, Nijmegen, Netherlands.

Publisher contact information for the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

Keywords: Netherlands, Nijmegen, Arthritis Therapy, Arthritis, Necrosis, Rheumatic Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.